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Thanks for the links. And thanks for planning to expand the knowledge base. When you do the tranny fluid change, are you going to do a flush to get all the fluid out? Or multiple fill/drain cycles? Or just ~1/2 the fluid that comes out when you drop the pan?

Will either do pan drop or possible fluid exchange machine (pump in the AT moves the fluid around. Not to be confused with a "flush machine").

Your other link is for a 335i auto tranny which isn't the same as our 335d tranny. Still interesting, but not quite as relevant as I was hoping for. If anyone else has a link to a 6HP26/28 fluid analysis I'd love to see it. Thanks.

Is there a DIY thread on our transmission fluid change anywhere? I have a little over 80,000 miles and am thinking of just dropping the pan and draining/refilling just to get some fresh fluid in the mix. I do oil, DEF and brakes myself; is this similar or a step above in difficulty/complexity? Thx

Is there a DIY thread on our transmission fluid change anywhere? I have a little over 80,000 miles and am thinking of just dropping the pan and draining/refilling just to get some fresh fluid in the mix. I do oil, DEF and brakes myself; is this similar or a step above in difficulty/complexity? Thx

Here are a few links I had bookmarked on the subject. Hopefully its helpful. It was more involved than an oil change.

Color means little. Wrench boredom is a sickness which we all suffer from it to some degree. Hell I like to change my oil every 6.5k miles. I know it's probably a waste but I just like doing it.

"Hello, my name is John and I am a wrenchaholic". "Hello John! "

Just trying to keep people informed.

Sent from my MB525 using Bimmer App

Quote:

On side note I'm doing a pan drop at 50k miles. I don't like the how BMW programmed the transmission to hold 3rd or 4th gear to promote faster warm up on cold starts. It also holds this gear in city driving (trying to sustain engine temps for emissions perhaps?) as well. I just don't like it. I don't mind spending the money to do it and I'll send off a sample to BS so they can add to their data base.

Thank you for the links TDIwyse. Very helpful. Besides digital temp gauge, I think I have everything I need. Looks like the creeper will get a workout, wish I had a full blown lift so I could stand and do the job

Approaching 50k and due to the modified nature of the vehicle wanted to get an idea on how the transmission is holding up.

This time I changed the pan as well. Attached some pics.

The fluid was darker than what came out during the first change. The 3 clear glass containers are fresh ZF oil, 2012 fluid, and then what came out yesterday. Sampled the fluid and sent it into get analyzed. Analysis attached of the first and then this 2nd fluid change.

There was some "material" contained on the magnets. Not sure how normal the amount is compared to what others have seen.

Also snapped a shot of the old and new pans side by side, and the transmission guts seen when the pan is removed.

Definitely looks dirty to me. I think 80-120k is a long time for Tranny Fluid but temp is a major factor and we really have no measure of that in our cars.

I'm reaching 74k so may give it a look as well. I'm planning to hold on to this 2010 335D till it is no longer "viable".

At 49K my plans are very similar, hold on till no longer reliable, which hopefully is the 200K mark. Because my car rarely sees severe service, most mileage is highway, my plan was for tranny fluid change around 80K miles. This will be well within the extended warranty should something 'happen' due to the change. For the next change would go with a shorter interval as all the fluid does not actually get changed (torque converter)

At 49K my plans are very similar, hold on till no longer reliable, which hopefully is the 200K mark. Because my car rarely sees severe service, most mileage is highway, my plan was for tranny fluid change around 80K miles. This will be well within the extended warranty should something 'happen' due to the change. For the next change would go with a shorter interval as all the fluid does not actually get changed (torque converter)